Chapter 66: The Wolf Cult (3)
“Um… Are you sure it’s safe to trust and follow this path?”
Envy asked worriedly, trailing behind me. It was indeed safe.
Through the memories passed down to me by the sword, I had a clear understanding of this temple’s internal structure.
Originally built underground, the temple had a mine established above it over time. However, the original escape route still remained in place.
“Don’t worry. I found the escape route on the map we saw earlier.”
Even if it was a lie, there was no way for her to confirm otherwise. So, I decided to be shameless.
The escape route wasn’t on the upper floors, nor was it on the lower levels. As the temple was constructed underground, escaping in any direction only revealed endless dirt walls. I led Envy toward the middle level of the temple.
“Hey, do you think there might be any treasure left here?”
I turned to face Envy. Despite having gone through a dangerous situation just moments ago, she was already yearning for riches. Did she not perceive the danger at all? I shook my head.
“There’s probably nothing left. It’s an ancient temple.”
In reality, there weren’t any treasures worth mentioning left by the order.
This was a forgotten place, belonging to a religious group that had long faded into obscurity.
Those who had remained here had taken anything valuable with them when they left.
Whatever treasures once existed had been scattered across the world.
The only reason the Moonlight Sword had survived was that it wasn’t exactly a treasure, but rather a ceremonial blade.
Its lack of adornment with precious jewels probably contributed to its preservation. The faint remnants of faith had ignored the Moonlight Sword, leaving it untouched.
I glanced at the Moonlight Sword, fastened at my waist.
It wouldn’t replace the White Dragon Sword just yet, but the aura emanating from it was extraordinary.
It wasn’t magic or shamanism but carried a divine energy. If wielded properly, it could serve as my hidden trump card.
“This is the place.”
Envy and I stopped in front of a large mural. It depicted moonlight streaming from the heavens, illuminating countless wolves seated below.
The imagery of humans performing a ritual before a grand altar was striking.
The scene showed a human with their heart removed, placed on the altar. The heart of a wolf, bathed in moonlight, was then inserted into the empty cavity.
This was far from a normal religion, which explained why the temple had been hidden underground, away from prying eyes.
Following the memories within me, I moved skillfully. As I fiddled with the brazier depicted in the mural and adjusted it, it clicked into place. Immediately, the massive mural split apart with a rumbling sound.
The mural itself was the door.
“Wow… How did you do that…?”
“It was written on the map.”
I opened a door I’d never seen before as if it was nothing, and Envy’s suspicion was only natural.
Once again, I lied, my demeanor calm enough to make her doubt herself instead. She just blamed herself for not observing her surroundings more carefully.
“I see…”
‘They say lies will sprout tails if you tell too many.’
It was an old superstition of the White Frost Tribe. No one in the tribe’s history had actually grown a tail, but for some reason, I felt an odd ache near my tailbone.
With Envy, I stepped forward. Beyond the mural door lay a massive tunnel. Though part of the mine had collapsed in an explosion, this section remained intact thanks to its particularly sturdy foundation. I ran my hand along the iron pillars embedded at the tunnel’s end.
We pressed on, though we had to wander a bit due to the blocked paths caused by the explosion.
Fortunately, no monsters appeared. Perhaps they had fled at the sound of the explosion, or maybe there was another reason.
As we relied on the light Envy’s magic provided, we eventually heard familiar voices from not far away.
[Envy! Saeorin!]
[Knights! If you can hear us, answer!]
A faint breeze brushed against my hair, carrying with it the fresh scent of the outside world.
Envy and I reunited with Black Light and Shave before returning to Black Forge. After the mine collapse incident, it was impossible not to report it to the kingdom.
However, contrary to my expectations of punishment, no sanctions were placed on the four of us.
This was due to the discovery of the forgotten temple amidst the collapsed mine. The dwarves were ecstatic about unearthing knowledge from a lost era.
On the very night we returned, even before dawn, droves of dwarves swarmed to the site for excavation.
“Traces of some strange religious order were found.”
“What’s the architectural style? What era does it belong to?”
“Wouldn’t it be great if there were weapons left behind…”
The dwarves buzzed with excitement, many of them barely dressed as they had rushed out in haste. I avoided their gaze, clutching the newly acquired Moonlight Sword tightly.
No one was getting this.
Three days passed. The dwarves’ initial interest in the power mechanism began to wane. As the device was damaged and no one could guarantee its functionality, their attention shifted back to their main tasks.
Even the mages who had confidently arrived at Black Forge lost their momentum. Envy, who visited me during this period, was equally disheartened, slumping over like melted cheese in the summer heat.
“Ugh… Looks like we’ll be leaving soon…”
Good news to my ears. If the Tower returned, my return would naturally follow. I was eager to face the Reincarnator with my blade.
“Things aren’t going well, huh?”
“Nope…”
That evening, Black Light visited me. I hadn’t expected him to come, so I had to greet him in my nightwear.
“What brings you here?”
“I figured I should deliver this…”
Black Light handed me a sword wrapped in thick cloth. Its form was familiar to me.
‘The White Dragon Sword…’
I lifted the sword, glancing at Black Light. His body was covered in dirt, likely from rushing over during the excavation. I lowered my gaze to examine the sword.
The pristine, white blade was now etched with spiderweb-like cracks. Perhaps it had failed to withstand magical impact or had been damaged by the debris of the collapsing mine.
Vwooom—!
When I lightly swung the White Dragon Sword, a faint vibration spread through the air like a dying scream.
Its lifespan had come to an end. The White Dragon Sword could no longer function as a weapon.
“… Thank you for bringing this.”
I felt as if I had lost an old friend. My voice, too, carried the weight of that sentiment. The blade had fit perfectly in my hand; I would miss it greatly.
“… Are you disappointed?”
“Sorry?”
The unexpected question made me look at Black Light.
“I asked if you’re disappointed about its state.”
“It’d be a lie to say I’m not. This was a companion I’ve fought with for a long time, and now it’s like this…”
Black Light fell silent, appearing deep in thought. I patiently waited for him to speak.
A cool breeze blew in through the open window, causing the White Dragon Sword to wail mournfully as it passed through the cracks.
“Would you entrust this sword to me?”
“You mean… to fix it?”
“I can’t guarantee it. But I’ll do my best.”
I turned my gaze outside. The moon was full, illuminating the land below in bright light. I could have sought out a more renowned smith—there were plenty better than Black Light in this nation.
Yet, for some reason, I wanted to entrust it to him. The strong bond I had sensed before felt present again. Without a word, I handed him the sword.
Black Light studied the short blade before him, groaning quietly. The material wasn’t ordinary steel. It held a faint chill and resonated with mana.
While he had confidently offered to repair it, he now faced a conundrum.
‘If I layer it with another metal…’
That would be wrong. Covering the blade with a different metal would kill its inherent spirit, rendering it a completely different sword. It had to be restored while preserving its essence.
After deliberating for some time, Black Light pulled out a glowing red ingot. It was highly mana-conductive and incredibly durable but weighed three times as much as regular steel.
Redbit.
This would be a gamble. The properties of the Redbit and the sword’s unique essence had to align perfectly.
‘I have no other choice…’
The sword’s weight would change, making it harder for the wielder to adapt. But there was no alternative.
Whoosh—!
The furnace roared to life as Black Light’s hands moved with precision. Sweat poured down his bulging muscles, evaporating almost instantly from the heat. His bronze skin began to redden, developing faint burns, but he didn’t stop.
Three days passed. The flames of the furnace never died, burning day and night. Black Light didn’t eat or drink. And yet, he didn’t falter, not even feeling fatigue.
The work reached its final stages.
“Finally…”
His voice was dry, but satisfaction lingered in his tone. Black Light looked down at the restored blade.
As it cooled, the blade emitted wisps of white smoke. Along the pristine white blade, a crimson line ran like blood.